Chapter 16: Into the Forest of Death
"Is that so?" Ibiki Morino's scarred face betrayed a flicker of disappointment, though a glint of approval lurked in his eyes. His psychological gambit hadn't broken them, and that resilience impressed him. "Even if the stakes are your entire shinobi career, you still refuse to quit?"
Not a single hand shot up to surrender. The genin in the room had already pledged their lives to the shinobi path—why would they falter now? The tension hung heavy, like a storm cloud ready to burst, but no one backed down.
Ibiki's gaze swept the room, realizing further pressure was futile. With a sudden, sharp nod, he declared, "Everyone passes!"
"Huh?!" Naruto's jaw dropped, his brain still reeling from bracing for a question that would've fried his last few brain cells. Confusion rippled through the classroom, murmurs of disbelief and frustration rising like a tide among the genin.
Ibiki's voice cut through the noise, calm but commanding. "There was never a tenth question. The choice to take it or walk away was the question—and you've all answered it." He paused, his eyes flicking to Renji in the front row. "The written exam tested your intelligence-gathering skills." And you, kid, were a step ahead of everyone. Renji's answers, secured the night before, had made that clear.
"Chunin Selection Exams, First Stage, concluded!" Ibiki's voice boomed, final and unyielding.
Renji rose from his seat, his warm smile unshaken as he strolled toward Naruto. He extended a hand, noticing Naruto's legs wobbling like a newborn fawn. "Need a lift?"
"Renji…" Naruto grabbed the offered hand, his voice shaky as Renji pulled him up. "I thought I was gonna trap you, Sasuke, and Sakura as genin forever!"
Renji's expression softened, a subtle glint of amusement in his eyes. Truth is, Naruto, you and Sasuke would've been fine either way. Even if Naruto had flubbed a real question, it wouldn't have mattered much in the grand scheme. But Renji kept that thought to himself, letting Naruto bask in his relief.
BAM!
Glass shattered as a figure crashed through the classroom window, shards glittering in the air like deadly confetti. A red curtain unfurled dramatically behind the newcomer, billowing like a cape. "I'm Anko Mitarashi, proctor for the second exam!" the woman declared, her voice brimming with wild energy. "Let's move, brats! Follow me!"
The genin barely reacted, still dazed from Ibiki's mind games. It wasn't defiance—just sheer mental exhaustion.
Anko's eerie smile widened as she scanned the room, noting the numbers. "Seventy-nine genin, twenty-six teams… Ibiki, you're going soft."
Ibiki's face remained stone-cold. "This year's batch is exceptional."
"Is that so?" Anko snorted, her tone lighter than Ibiki's but laced with a dangerous edge. "Well, for the second exam, I'll cut that number down by more than half."
"I look forward to it," Ibiki replied, unfazed.
Anko turned to the genin, her grin sharp enough to cut. "Second exam's tomorrow. Ask your jōnin sensei for the time and place. Dismissed!"
...
ROOT Headquarters
The flicker of candlelight cast eerie shadows across the stone walls. Danzo's piercing gaze locked onto Renji. "How was the exam?"
Renji stood straight, his voice steady. "The written exam went smoothly. The final question was no issue. We passed without trouble."
Danzo nodded, his expression unreadable. "If you hadn't passed, you wouldn't have needed to return."
Renji's smile twitched. Gee, thanks for the warm fuzzies, Danzo. "…"
"For tomorrow's second exam," Danzo continued, glancing at the Cat Masked ROOT agent, "Owl, brief him on the rules and precautions."
"Yes, sir!" Cat Mask nodded sharply.
Danzo moved toward a secret passage, his silhouette nearly swallowed by the darkness beyond the candlelight. He paused, turning back to Renji. "Pay close attention to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and Uchiha Sasuke during the exam."
Renji tilted his head, his brow furrowing slightly. "Eliminate them or assist them?"
"Neither," Danzo said, his voice cold as steel. "Monitor them. Report any abnormalities to me."
"Understood," Renji replied with a nod.
"ROOT operatives will be inside the exam area," Danzo added. "Relay any anomalies directly to them." With that, he vanished into the shadows.
Cat Mask unrolled a scroll, revealing a detailed map. "This is the Forest of Death, Training Ground 44. Your exam tomorrow…"
Renji's lips curved into a faint smirk. Connections sure make life easier.
...
Training Ground 44: Entrance to the Forest of Death
A towering iron net loomed before the genin, separating them from the ominous Forest of Death. Gigantic trees, their trunks wider than houses, stretched into the sky, their dense canopies blotting out the sun. A white sign blazed with vivid red letters: NO ENTRY. The distant cawing of crows echoed through the air, and a heavy, foreboding shadow seemed to cling to the waiting genin.
Renji shielded his eyes from the dim sunlight, his gaze catching the glint of massive pythons slithering along the thick branches, their bodies thicker than a grown man. Beside him, Naruto was practically vibrating, taunting Anko with exaggerated gestures, wriggling like an overexcited worm.
Anko's smile twitched with murderous intent. A kunai flashed from her hand, aimed to graze Naruto's cheek—but Renji's hand shot out, catching it mid-air with effortless precision.
Anko's eyes darkened for a split second, her expression unreadable.
"Proctor," Renji said, stepping forward with impeccable politeness, "Naruto didn't mean any harm. Please don't be angry. It'd be a shame if such a beautiful, smooth face got wrinkles over this." He offered the kunai back with a disarming smile.
"…" Anko took the kunai, her expression strained, then turned away abruptly, ignoring him. Her back to the genin, she wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. What's wrong with me? That angelic face… I can't even snap at him! How's a kid this polite stuck in a brutal exam like this? If he gets hurt… She shook off the thought, forcing her face into a mask of calm.
That calm shattered the moment she turned back. Naruto, peeking from behind Renji, was making faces at her, sticking out his tongue.
"!" Anko's teeth ground together, her composure cracking. How are these two even friends?! One's a saint, the other's a gremlin!
"Sign these consent forms," Anko barked, thrusting a stack of papers at the genin. "Someone might die out there. If you don't sign, it's my neck on the line. Hahaha!" She tried not to glare at Naruto as she handed out the forms.
Renji signed his with a flourish, handing it back with a polite smile that made Anko's heart skip a beat. She glanced at his name, her mind racing. Renji, huh? Even his name's cute! This kid's too perfect for this death trap. I can't let him get hurt!
"Alright, listen up!" Anko called, her voice sharp as she fought to focus. "Here's how the second exam works…" Renji tuned her out—he'd heard it all from Cat Mask the night before. The Forest of Death, Training Ground 44, was a circular arena with 44 locked entrances, sprawling rivers, dense forests, and a central tower 10 kilometers from the gate. The challenge? A scroll scramble. Of the 26 teams, half got a Heaven Scroll, half an Earth Scroll. Each team needed one of each to reach the tower within 120 hours. Failure meant disqualification.
Anko's eyes landed on Renji's team. "Which team has four members?"
Renji raised his hand, his voice calm. "That's us, Proctor."
Anko's expression faltered for a moment before she steeled herself. "You need two Heaven Scrolls and two Earth Scrolls to pass." Why did I make that rule? Now this kid's got a harder target!
"Understood," Renji said, unfazed. Two of each? No big deal. His real mission in the Forest of Death was Orochimaru, not scrolls.
Renji collected their team's single Heaven Scroll. That meant they needed one more Heaven Scroll and two Earth Scrolls. With no way to know who held what, duplicates were inevitable.
...
Thirty Minutes Later: Entrance 12
Naruto was practically bouncing, punching the air with wild enthusiasm. "Anyone who gets in our way, I'll take 'em down one by one!"
Sakura sighed, rubbing her temples. "Naruto…"
The chains rattled, and the iron gate creaked open. Renji, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and their fourth teammate slipped into the Forest of Death, the sunlight vanishing behind them. Towering trees loomed overhead, their massive canopies choking out the light, leaving only patchy beams to pierce the dimness. A thick, fluctuating mist clung to the air, carrying the occasional scream of other genin as the scroll scramble began.
Naruto and Sakura were prepared, but the distant cries sent shivers down their spines. Naruto's bravado faltered, though he'd never admit it. His latest act of courage? Refusing to go relieve himself alone.
He sidled up to Renji, his voice low. "Hey, Renji… wanna go pee together?"
Renji blinked, his smile twitching. "No thanks."
Naruto pouted, his eyes wide and pitiful. "C'mon, just come with me!"
Sakura shot him a look. "Naruto, are you scared? Is that why you're dragging Renji along?"
"Huh?!" Naruto's face flushed, his voice rising in panic. "No way! I'm not scared at all! I just… I just want Renji's company! I'm totally fine alone!" To prove his point, he stomped into the bushes, his shoulders squared with forced bravado.